Christopher Branch, Sr^{[1, 2, 3, 4]}

1602 - 1681  (78 years)

• Name	Christopher Branch  [5, 6]
  Suffix	Sr
  Birth	2 Sep 1602	London, London, England   [4, 7]
  Gender	Male
  Arrival	1619	, , Virginia, USA   [8]
  Residence	1624	, , Virginia, USA   [9]
  Death	20 Feb 1681	Kingsland Plantation, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA   [4, 7]
  Burial	Kingsland Plantation, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA   [7]
  Person ID	I46770	Master
  Last Modified	14 Dec 2022

  
  

  Father	Lionel Branch,   b. 18 Aug 1566, Abingdon, Berkshire, England d. 1 Jun 1605, Ludgate, London, England (Age 38 years)
  Mother	Valentia Sparkes,   b. 18 Aug 1566, St Martin, Ludgate, London, England d. 4 October 1605, London, London, England (Age 39 years)
  Marriage	8 Jul 1596	St Martin, Ludgate, London, England
  Family ID	F10635	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Francis Addie,   b. 30 Nov 1599, Darton, Yorkshire, England d. 1630, , Henrico, Virginia, USA (Age 30 years)
  Marriage	2 Sep 1619	St Peter, London, England
  Children	1. Ephraim Branch,   b. 1620, , , , England d. 1621, Kingsland Plantation, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA (Age 1 year)   2. Valentia Branch,   b. 1622, , Henrico, Virginia, USA d. 1 Jun 1730, , Henrico, Virginia, USA (Age 108 years) + 3. Thomas James Branch,   b. 23 Apr 1623, Jamestown, James City, Virginia, USA d. 1 Feb 1694, Kingsland Plantation, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA (Age 70 years)   4. Elizabeth Branch,   b. 1625   d. Nov 1701, , Henrico, Virginia, USA (Age 76 years)   5. William Branch,   b. 1625, , Henrico, Virginia, USA d. 1676, , Henrico, Virginia, USA (Age 51 years)   6. John Branch,   b. 1627, , Henrico, Virginia, USA d. 24 Nov 1665, , Charles City, Virginia, USA (Age 38 years)   7. Christopher Branch,   b. 1628, , Henrico, Virginia, USA d. 1665, , Charles City, Virginia, USA (Age 37 years)   8. George Branch,   b. 1630, , Elizabeth City, Virginia, USA d. 18 May 1688, , Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA (Age 58 years)
  Family ID	F10627	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	5 Nov 2022

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 2 Sep 1602 - London, London, England Arrival - 1619 - , , Virginia, USA Marriage - 2 Sep 1619 - St Peter, London, England Residence - 1624 - , , Virginia, USA Death - 20 Feb 1681 - Kingsland Plantation, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA Burial - - Kingsland Plantation, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Maps

  Map of the Branch Holdings

  
  

• Notes

  Christopher Branch Father: Lionel Braunche Mother: Valentia Sparkes b. 1601 in London, England d. 1681 in Henrico County, Virginia m. licence September 2, 1619 in St. Peter's,Westcheap, London, England, Mary Addie, bap. August 16, 1593 in Darton, Yorkshire, England, d. 1630 in Virginia, Daughter of Francis Addie and Margaret Lee. Issue Thomas Branch, christened May 1620 in Jamestown, Virginia, d. buried April 21, 1695 in Varina Parish, Henrico County, Virginia m. Elizabeth Gough. In 1622 Thomas was the only Virginia born to survive the Good Friday Indian Massacre. William Branch, b. 1625 in Henrico County, Virginia, d. 1676 in Henrico County, Virginia m. Jane Hatcher Christopher Branch, Jr., bc. 1627 Information: March 1, 1601, proved, April 24, 1602: Christopher's grandfather William Braunche (branch2E) wrote the following clause in his will: "To my unthrifty and disobedient sonne Honell (Lyonell?) by blacke gowne and best cloke and to his first borne sonne at eightene yeares of age then liveinge in money Five marks". It would appear that when Christopher turned 18 he collected his inheritance, got married and sailed for Virginia. March 1619/20: Christopher and his wife departed for America on the London Merchant, which was dispatched by the Virginia Company (also known as the London Company) from Tilburyhope in England with 200 passengers. 1624/25: The Henrico County, Virginia Muster of 1624/25 lists Christopher, his wife and their nine month old son Thomas, as living at "ye Colledg Land". 'College Land was a large tract of land in Henrico County which was to be used as a place were the Indians would learn the Christian religion. In the words of the colonists, the land was set aside "to erect and build a college in Virginia for the training and bringing up of infidel's children to the true knowledge of god and understanding of righteousness." This plan was abandoned in 1622 after the Good Friday Massacre of about 350 colonist by the Indians led by chief Opechancanough. 1632: Christopher returned to England, going to court, saying he had been cheated out of ownership of the Bull Inn at Abingdon by his Uncle Robert Payne. Christopher's case was that, by the terms of his great-uncle Thomas' will of 1565 the Bull Inn after descending to his grandfather William, and to his uncle, William's eldest son Thomas, should have descended to Christopher's father Lionel, as heir at law of the younger Thomas, and so to Christopher after Lionel's death. But Christopher lost his case and returned to Virginia and settled down to a planter's life. 1634: The Land Office issued to Christopher Branch, Planter, of Arrowhattocks a 21 year lease on 100 acres on the north side of the James River. 1635: Christopher obtained a patent for 250 acres on the other side of the James River. 50 acres for his own and 200 for the transportation of four other persons. He renewed the patent wtice in 1638. 1636-38: Christopher had a patent for 100 acres of which he assigned 60 acres to James Place in return for 100 acres. He renewed the 1636 patent and got another 350 acres for seven more transports in 1638. 1639: Christopher was the Viewer of Tobacco. 1639 thru 1641: Christopher was a member of the House of Burgesses from Henrico County, Virginia. 1656: Christopher was a Justice of the Peace in Henrico County, Virginia. 1665: Christopher now obtained a patent on Kingsland as he now called his estate. The 1,380 acre plantation encompassed his earlier 250 and 450 acre patents, and added 50 acres from John Griffin and 630 acres for transporting thirteen persons. June 20, 1678, probated, February 20, 1681/82: Christopher's will confirmed what he had already gifted to his son Thomas and the rest was itemized out to his grandchildren Christopher, Samuel, Benjamin, Sarah and Mary (wife of Thomas Jeffferson (jeff201). At his son Christopher's death (1665) the children had come to live with him and were raised at Kingsland. April 13, 1682: The inventory and appraisement of Christopher's estate was pounds 38:7:10 and the division of the estate was ordered. 1691: Christopher Branch III and his Uncle Thomas Branch were in heated dispute. Both lived on land that Christopher Branch I had owned and Thomas put a fence across an old cart path blocking Christopher's way to the creek. After Christopher several times tore down the fence, Thomas sued him. To help resolve the issue, Christopher's brothers, Samuel and Benjamin Branch were ordered to give depostions about where a cart path ran. Christopher III pointed to a clause in his grandfather's will - that the cart way be not stopped up nor altered that now is to go into the woods for timber or for firewood but to have a clear passage - and the court ordered Thomas to leave a path fifteen feet wide. Will of Christopher Branch 20 June 1678 In the name of God Amen. The twentieth of June 1678. I Christopher Branch, of Kingsland, in the County of Henrico being in years and memory, praised be to God, do make this my Last Will and Testament as follows: Item. I give my body unto the Earth from whence it came and my Soul unto my Savior Jesus Christ, who has bought it with his most precious blood. Item. I give unto my son Thomas Branch my great copper kettle and a book called Ursinis Catucis and I do confirm the two hundred and forty acres of land that I have given him by deed gift formerly. Item. I give unto my grandson Christopher Branch all the land between the river and the long slash, beginning at Proctors Creek mouth, and run upward on the river to the pine tree that parts my land and my son Thomas, and from Proctors Creek at the lower end of long slash on the inside of the slash running upward to my son Thomas’ land unto him and his heirs male forever, provided that he shall help to build for his brother, Samuel Branch a house [with] four lengths of board every length to be five foot with help of the Negro and Job. If they live until Samuel be of ability to help and to seat it, and to help him to clear a cornfield sufficiently fenced to keep out hogs and cattle. Item. I give unto my grandson Samuel Branch all the land that lies between the long slash and the bottom called by the name Jacks Bottom, beginning at Proctors Creek and running upwards to my son Thomas’ land to him and his heirs male forever provided that he, with the help of Christopher and the Negro and Job, if it pleased God they live, do build Benjamin one house of four lengths of board every length of board to be five foot long, clear and fence him a cornfield so much as they do for Samuel, with his help when he shall be able to seat it. Item. I give unto my grandson Benjamin Branch all the land that lies between Jacks Bottom and Proctors Creek beginning at Proctors Creek and running upwards to my son Thomas’ land to him and his heirs male forever. It is my will that Christopher do give unto Samuel and Benjamin six locust posts and two elm posts a piece when they shall build them their dwelling houses if they can find none on their own ground. It is my will that any of these—Christopher, Samuel, or Benjamin—do die before they come to the age of one and twenty years then their land shall return to the next brother and the goods that they shall have out of my estate after my decease. It is my will that after my decease, my son Thomas shall pay unto Christopher the rent that shall be due unto his Majesty yearly for his two hundred and forty acres of land when it shall be demanded. Likewise, Mr. Gower, Samuel, and Benjamin when they shall seat their land. Item. It is my will that neither Samuel nor Benjamin go off the plantation but to live with Christopher and to have housing and ground and to work together until they be able to seat their own land unless they be willing to go off themselves. It is my will that my part of my Job’s labor, so long as he has to serve, shall go to maintain Samuel, Benjamin, and Sarah, and the half of the Negro’s labor go to maintain them. Item. It is my will that the cart way be not stopped up nor altered that now is to go into the woods for timber or for firewood but to have a clear passage. It is my will that William and John Branch shall have liberty to fish or fowl in the creeks or swamp. If Christopher shall refuse to help to build and clear for Samuel and Benjamin as I have set down in this my will, then he shall pay to Benjamin six hundred pounds of tobacco. Item: I give unto Thomas Jefferson one hogshead of tobacco of four hundred pounds weight whom I make with my grandson Christopher Branch my full and sole executors of this my last will and testament and I desire them to see my will truly performed, my debts and legacies being paid and burial discharged, all the rest of my estate I give unto my grandson Christopher Branch and Samuel and Benjamin and Sarah and Mary Branch, the wife of Thomas Jefferson to be equally divided among them. Witness my hand and seal the day and year above written. Christopher Branch Witnessed: Abel Gower Richard Ward

  
  

• Sources

  [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree. [S1439] The Compendium of American Genealogy, Vol. III. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=FLHG-CompAmGenIII&h=185880&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt [S1433] Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Vol. I. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=FLHG-VABiographyI&h=249612&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt [S1162] Ancestry.com, Geneanet Community Trees Index, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.) (Reliability: 3). Name Christopher W Branch Gender M (Male) Birth Date 2 sept. 1602 (2 Sep 1602) Birth Place Kent, London, London, England, United Kingdom Death Date 1681 Death Place Henrico Co, Virginia, USA Father Lionel Braunche Mother Valentia Sparks Spouse Mary Frances Addie Child Benjamin Branch; Christopher Branch; Ephraim Branch; Mary Branch; Thomas Branch; William Addie Branch https://gw.geneanet.org/franbyg?n=branch&oc=&p=christopher+w [S1378] Ancestry.com, Virginia Biography, Volume I-II, (The Generations Network, Inc.) (Reliability: 3). https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/192:6398?ssrc=pt&tid=186591104&pid=322436301817 [S1430] Ancestry.com, Branchiana : being a partial account of the Branch family in Virginia, (Ancestry.com Operations Inc) (Reliability: 3). https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/103:15674?ssrc=pt&tid=186591104&pid=322436301817 [S751] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.) (Reliability: 3). Name: Christopher Branch Sr Gender: Male Birth Date: 2 Sep 1598 Birth Place: London, City of London, Greater London, England Death Date: Feb 1682 Death Place: Henrico, Henrico County, Virginia, United States of America Cemetery: Kingsland Plantation (Branch Family Cemetery) Burial or Cremation Place: Henrico County, Virginia, United States of America URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115319744/christopher-branch https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/61874534:60525?ssrc=pt&tid=186591104&pid=322436301817 [S747] Ancestry.com, U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc), Place: Virginia; Year: 1619; Page Number: 53 (Reliability: 3). Name: Christopher Branch Arrival Year: 1619 Arrival Place: Virginia Primary Immigrant: Branch, Christopher Family Members: Wife Mary Source Publication Code: 1219.4 Source Bibliography: COLDHAM, PETER WILSON. The Complete Book of Emigrants: A Comprehensive Listing Compiled from English Public Records of Those Who Took Ship to the Americas for Political, Religious, and Economic Reasons; of Those Who Were Deported for Vagrancy, Roguery, or Non-Conformity; and of Those Who Were Sold to Labour in the New Colonies. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1607-1660. 1988. 600p. Household Members (Name) Relationship Christopher Branch Mary Branch Wife https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3970890:7486?ssrc=pt&tid=186591104&pid=322436301817 [S36] Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp., Virginia, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1607-1890, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.) (Reliability: 3). Name: [Christopher Branch] State: VA County: Colledge Land Township: Virginia Pioneer Year: 1624 Database: VA Early Census Index https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32734266:3578?ssrc=pt&tid=186591104&pid=322436301817